Fonte is a sconce for the corners of a home: a wall lamp with a shade of natural yellow travertine stone, a blackened iron arm and a round walnut plate. We are born with an instinct to dwell, and we search for shelters that make us feel bounded and centered. The cozy corner of a room tucks us away like the innermost turn of a spiraled shell. Dimly lit, that corner envelops the body and secludes us from the world. Knowing this, at The Soft Minimal we shape objects to encourage the thoughts and feelings of a well-lived life. Travertine is limestone left by mineral water through thousands of years. Its surface is matte, pitted where air and water were trapped as the stone set, and no two shades are alike. The cone opens downward, five inches across. The arm, blackened end to end, runs level from the plate nearly seven inches into the room and joins the cone at its top. The travertine is thick, and no light comes through it. A small LED bulb is set high inside the cone, hidden from the room. Light leaves only at the mouth and pools on what lies beneath: a pillow, or the page of a book. Over a bed, Fonte stands in for the table lamp and keeps the nightstand clear. The bulb offers three colors. Warm at bedtime. Neutral in the hallway. Cool over the first coffee. Specifications Shade: cone, 5.1 in / 13 cm across the mouth Height: 5.5 in / 14 cm Extends from wall: 6.7 in / 17 cm Wall plate: round, 3.9 in / 10 cm across, walnut wood Materials: natural travertine stone, walnut wood, blackened iron Bulb: one small 7W LED, three light colors (warm, neutral, cool), included; recessed inside the cone, not visible from the room Installation: wall mounted. Connects to existing wiring like any wall lamp, or to a cord with a plug. In the box: lamp, wire lead attached, LED bulb fitted, mounting bar, screws, wall anchors.
